Sheet metal table having hollow end panels supporting the table top



July 5, 1960 H. G. KNUTH 2,943,898

SHEET METAL TABLE HAVING HOLLOW END PANELS SUPPORTING THE TABLE TOP 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 4, 1958 5O HARVEY G. KNUT July 5, 1960 H. G.KNUTH 2,943,898

SHEET METAL TABLE HAVING HOLLOW END PANELS SUPPORTING THE TABLE: TOPFiled Sept. 4, 1958 r 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. HARVEY G. KNUTH E BY44 9% flmW/W 2,943,898 Patented July 5, 1960 SHEET METAL TABLE HAVINGHoLLow END PANELS SUPPORTING Tun TABLE TUP Filed Sept. 4, 1958, Ser. No.759,032

7 Claims. (Cl. 311-110) This invention relates to a sheet metal oficetable and more particularly to a table having hollow end panelssupporting the table top.

Contemporary sheetmetal tables, particularly of the type having hollowsupporting end panels, have not been entirely satisfactory chieflybecause of their expense; the difliculties and expense of assembling anddisassembling the supports, particularly hollow end panels, to the tabletop and the excessive lateral flexibility of the hollow end panels.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a sheet metaltable of materially reduced cost but superior quality and improvedrigidity and which is capable of such simple and rapid assembly. anddisassembly without tools of any kind as to eliminate any need forfactory assembly of the table or shipping or moving the table in 3assembled form.

Another object of the invention is to provide a table having hollow, topsupporting end panels, and panel securing means fixed to and projectingfrom the end side of the table top and so constructed as to be readilytelescoped into the end panels and upon being telescoped toautomatically and properly locate, and relatively align, the end panelsand also rigidify the panels and secure the same in rigid relation tothe table top.

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide a table of thecontemporary hollow end type so constructed that the two end panels maybe quickly and efiectively secured against detachment and in rigidrelation to the table top by a minimum number of fastening elements andwithout use of tools. I

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in perspective of, and from below, a.' tableembodying the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective, and partiallyin section, of the top of the table in Figure l. and showing thestructure of an end panel locating and rigidifying bracket;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view section taken along the line3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken along the line4-4 of Figure 3; and

' Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken along theline 5--5 of Figure 3.

As shown in the drawings, a sheet metal ofice table embodyingv theinvention comprises a table top 2, two hollow end panels or leg members4 supporting the table top and a drawer 6 and end panel or leg securingmeans 8, Figures 2 to 5.

The table top 2 comprises a'sheet metal plate or top panel 10 which maybe covered by linoleum top covering 12 encompassed by a stainless steeltrim molding 13 which circumscribes the periphery of the top plate 10and linoleum top cover 12. The top 2 also comprises a supporting framework consisting of a pair of longituin vertical dinal box panels 14 and16 having oppositely directed, outwardly turned side flanges :18 spotwelded to the top plate at spaced points and an edge frame member 20.The edge frame member 20 comprises a box channel 22 interfitted with agenerally L-shaped channel member 24. The box channel 22 is formed withan outer box flange 26 extending perpendicularly to the web of thechannel and an inward box flange 28 inclined outwardly and upwardly fromthe web and terminating in an outwardly directed flange 30 spot weldedat spaced points to the inner end portion of the top inwardly directedhorizontal flange 32 of the channel 24. It will be apparent that theouter flange 26 of the channel 22 reinforces the web of channel 24 andthe channel 22 as a whole reinforces the top supporting flange 32 of thechannel 24.

The channel 24 is also formed with an inwardly directed flange 34underlying the web of the box channel 22 to provide a smooth, roundedlower edge for the table top frame and may be secured to the web of thechannel 22 by spot welding at spaced points. It will be evident that thechannel 24 extends along the four sides of the table top and providesthe usual table skirt.

Each of the hollow end panels or leg members 4 pref- .erably comprises apair of sheet metal plates or panels 36 and 38 having opposite inwardlyofiset end portions 40 and 42 fitting into the generally U-shaped endclosures 44 formed of sheet metal and secured to the plates 36 and 38 bysuitably spot welding to the inwardly olfset end portions 40 and 42 ofthe plates. The plates 36 and 38 may be formed at their lower oppositeedges with inturned flanges such as 46 and 48 terminating just short ofthe offset end portions 40 and 42 and jointed centrally by one or moresplice plates spot welded to the inturned flanges. Also as shown inFigure 1, plates 36 and 38 may be similarly formed at their top oppositeedges with similar inturned flanges 47 and 49 likewise'secured togethercentrally by one or more of the splice plates 50 spot welded thereto.The end panels also include adjustable feet comprising buttons 52secured to externally threaded pins 54 received in internally threadedflanged nuts or bushings 56 spot welded to mounting plates 58 havingdownwardly turned flanges in turn spot welded to the side of the endclosures 44.

The drawer 6 is a sheet metal drawer of the usual type and it isslidably mounted on a pair of opposed drawer guides 59 which aresupported by spot welding them, respectively, to one of a pair of=L-shaped cross rails-61 which are supported by spot welds on the boxchannels 14 and i8 and extend between a rear rail and front rails 62 and64. The rails 6t 62 and 64 may be secured in any convenient manner tothe web of the box channel 22 at the rear and front of the table top,the rail 60 extending between the end panels 4 and having inwardlyturned flanges such as 66 at opposite ends thereof to abut the innerfaces of the end panels. The rails 62 and 64 extend between the drawerand an adjacent end panel and are formed with flanges, such as 63, attheir outer ends to abut the end panels 4.

The end panels are each secured relative to the table top and rigidifiedby a pair of panel securing means 3 positioned to telescope with the endclosures 44. Each panel securing means comprises a single piece of sheetmetal slit and bent to form an upwardly inclined mounting flange '70spot welded to the upwardly and inwardly inclined flange 28 of the boxchannel 22 and a main body portion 72 of a width equal to the internalwidth of the I e respect to the front and rear edges of the table top.It

may he" noted that the street metal of the panel securing 'for insertionin said openings, and wing nuts for'securing means is formed wascut-outs 84 to permit therproper i p curvm "g of the lower'edg portions78, 80 and S2 ffom'the side flanges and main body of the panel securingor bracket. 7 l e V V I The opposed sides 74 and 76 of the securingmeans 8, the oppositesides: of the closures 44 and the panel abuttingflanges, and 681315 the front and rear rails are provided with'pnnc'hedsquare openings 86 which receive carriage the" s'qfiar'eshankportion ereach't' carriage bolt fitting, non-rotatably," in the square opening inthe outer faces of 'the closures 44 and the flanges 74 of the panelsecuring means 8. vWing nuts 9%), and suitable washers 92, on the innefn'ds'of. the bolts clamp against the inturned flanges 66 and 68 ofthefront'and rear rails 60, 62. and 64 so as tbfdetachablyQsecure each end"pmel 4 to a pair of the panel securing means 8'. Panel securing means 8are of suificient length on the order of one-quarter the height-oi a theend panels, to substantially increase the rigidity of the 7 end panelsagainst lateral flexibility and inward distortion ity of brackets forsecuring said end panels to said table top, said brackets being securedto' certain of said box, channels and having spaced flanges fortelescoping into 7 said hollow'end panels in wall reinforcing engagementwith the inner surfaces of said end panels, said brackets and said endpanels having aligned openings therein, bolts said bolts when insertedinsaid openings whereby detachably to-secure said panels to'said panellocating and rigidifying brackets.

3. A sheet met I and depending therefrom, ,saidbrackets each comprisinga one'piece' sheet metal member having a main body porsauna at eachupper corner of the two end panels,

tion and spaced parallel flanges extending perpendicular to the mainbody portion, said flanges at said lower ends having inwardly curvedcamming tongues, and hollow t sl mi i /ca ta a s fitfine i h s b ack bysliding over said brackets when said cammingtongues are inserted in saidend panels and the end panels moved or slid toward the table top."

,4. A sheet metal t ble comprising a sheet metal table top having frontand'rear rails depending therefi'om'said rails having at their outerends inturned apertured flanges, hollow leg panels ea'eh comprising. apair of sheet metal plates, closure members secured to and joining" thevertical 7 ends of the sheet metal'plates and panel securing meansthereby sewing not only to provide a more rigid table supflort'ingfstructure but also to prevent distortion or bending'of end panelsassuring ease of disassembly and'sub's'equent ire-assembly. t

It will be evident that the table may be shipped in kfiock'e'd-do'wnform and readily assembled without use of tools of 'a'nykiz'id byinverting the table top with the panel securing means 8projectingupwardly and thereafter the end panels in inverted. positioneasily and readily slide and telescope overior onto the panel securingbrackets S which brackets automatically locate the panels in properposition perpendicular to the front and rear edges or rails of thealigned square openings 86 andthe placing of the washers 92 and theplacing of the wingnuts 901 on the four bolts .88 the end panels arerigidly but detachably interlocked the table top; Itshould also be notedthat the camming ends 78, 80 and 82 of. the panel securing bracketsfacilitate this telescoping of the end panels with the brackets andinsure a close, tight, frictional fit between the panels and thebrackets. Dimensional tolerances in the width. of theend panels arecompensated by the cammingaction ofwthe brackets- I It is apparent thatwidely difierent; embodiments of thisinven-tion' may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof; and, therefore,.. it is notintended to be limitedcxcept'as indicated in the appended claims. t

1. A sheet metal table-including a table top comprising oppositelyfacing interfitted channels forming a peripheral frame a top panelsecured-to said frame, hollow sheet metal end panels, a plurality orone-piece brackets each having a top plate secured 'tosaid peripheralframe anda depending body portionhaving laterally directed,--parallelendflanges, the-externaldimensions of the bracket across said flangesbeing. substantially; equal to the, internaltdimensions of said hollowendpanels, and said brackets being? teles'copcd: into said end panelswith the flanges of thebrackets contacting the inner Wall surfaces ofsaid panels, and detachable means securing said brackets to saidendpanels: 7 V 2. A knock-downshee't metal table comprising a sheet metal:tabletop having a plurality of spaced-reinforcing 190xchannels, hollowsheet'metal end panels and a plural! comprising one-piece sheet metalbrackets each secured at its upper end to the table top' and dependingtherefrom into close fitt ingtelescoping frictional fi't'with the endpanels and positionirig end panels in substantially abutting relation tothe inturned flanges of the tabletop rails,,each of said brackets havingflanges estending parallel to the sheet metal plates of the end panelsand havinginwardly turned lower end portions for eamming' the platesover the flanges upon telescoping of the end' panels with the brackets,said panels" and said brackets having openings thereinaligned with theopeningsin'the inturned flangesof the rails to receivedetachabletfasten- 7 ing means securing the end panels to the bracketsand the rails of the table top. a e

5 A sheet metal table comprising a reinforced sheet metal table top, aof hollow end panels', four sheet metal brackets secured to said tableto'p and depending therefrom, said brackets being arranged in pairslaterally of the table top and the pairs being spaced longitudinally ofthe tabletop, eachbracket comprising a one-piece sheet metal memberhaving a main spay portion extend, ing in the directionlongitudinally'of'the table top and inwardly. turned, parallel flangesextending laterally of the table top-, the' main body portion of each ofsaid brackets and the opposed flanges of each of said brackets havinginwardly curvedtonguesatitheir lower ends for facilitating telescopicassei'nmy r said end panels' with said brackets, said panels 'adjac Itheir vertical edges having" openings thieinf ahd said brackets havingopniiigs therein in theopposite' flanges thereof and aligned with theopeningstn the emphasis; for, receiving four bolts for attaching'theelid parasite the to the channel niemlie'f andhaving' ge'nerally'l'l-shaped channels projecting from; the tabletop into closetelescopic engagement \iviththeinner surfaces of said leg panels, anddetachable means for fastening said hollow leg panels to the U-shaped'channels of said leg securing v brackets A 7 L A sheet metal tablecomprising a table top having-av channel? member forming a peripheralframe, a pair of hollow end panels each comprising spaced: side platesand spaced end closures connecting said side plates, angle j 21 a e 6mPfi as ib tP h n sheet metal brackets secured'to'the under surface thereoft' top edge" and members fixed to the channel member and projectingtherefrom into close fitting telescopic engagement with the innersurfaces of said end closures of said end panels for positioning andrigidifying the hollow end panels, and detachable means for fasteningsaid hollow end panels to 5 said angle members adjacent the table top.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,795,138 Ohnstrand et a1. Mar. 3, 1931 10 6 Merrill Sept. 6, 1932 WhiteApr. 3, 1951 White Mar. 2, 1954 Horen et a1 Oct. 4, 1955 Luxford July16, 1957

